The International Monetary Fund will raise its forecast for global economic growth in 2021 and 2022 after last year's 3.5% contraction, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Tuesday.
The stronger dollar and rising yields, along with expectations of a strong economic recovery, sapped demand for safe-haven bullion and pushed gold prices lower.
U.S. benchmark Treasury yields continued their dip, translating into lower opportunity cost of holding bullion, after scaling one-year highs last week.
"Gold has support nearby at $1,720, and if the US dollar strengthens in Asia and Europe, it could test that level, prompting some stop-loss selling," said OANDA senior market analyst Jeffrey Halley.
The European Central Bank may need some time before the recently agreed acceleration in the pace of money printing, ECB President Christine Lagarde said on Thursday.
A break could lead to a gain into a range of $1,761 to $1,783. On the daily chart, gold is riding on a wave 4, which is ending around a falling trendline.